COPENHAGEN: Two goals from Juan Mata inspired holders Chelsea to a 4-0 victory over little-known Danish side Nordsjaelland in the Champions League Group E on Tuesday.
The Londoners went ahead in the 33rd minute when Fernando Torres robbed midfielder Enoch Adu and passed to Frank Lampard who deftly set up Mata to fire home with his left foot.
Joshua John twice went close to an equaliser for the home team, forcing Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech into a spectacular finger-tip save on to the post in the second half.
David Luiz then made it 2-0 with a venomous free kick in the 79th minute before Mata sidefooted the third goal in the 82nd. Ramires completed the scoring from close range with one minute to go.
Cech’s flying stop earned special praise from Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo.
“It was a crucial save at that stage of the game,” Italian Di Matteo told reporters. “When the scoreline is 1-0 it’s always dangerous and they were committing players forward.
“I think we were a little bit slow in the first half but much better in the second. Once we scored the second goal we knew we were going to win the game.” (Reuters)
